Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 September 2023
397. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will consider amending the sports capital programme guidelines to enable golf clubs that are not owned by their members, to make applications for significant improvements to their facilities to the benefit of members; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40545/23]
View answerThe latest round (2023) of the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) closed for applications on Friday 8th September. A preliminary examination of the submitted applications is now underway but it is clear that the Programme has again generated a very large number of applications.
Work has begun on drafting the "Scoring Assessment and Assessment Manual" for the 2023 round and I hope to have this finalised in the coming weeks. Once this is published, the detailed assessment work can commence.
In general, the SCEP has always been confined to "not-for-profit" organisations. You will appreciate that the Programme is generally oversubscribed in terms of the amount requested and the actual funding available. To provide funding for commercial organisations is not considered the best use of the limited public funding available. After each round of the Programme however, a review is undertaken to identify any changes required to further improve the scheme. When undertaking the next review, consideration will be given to all aspects of the Programme including the eligibility of applicants.
